Former Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian Borges da Silva has paid tribute to marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, describing him as "a true legend" after the two met in Brazil and exchanged signed jerseys.
The meeting brought together two globally celebrated athletes, with Willian sharing photos of the occasion on social media. The images showed the pair chatting, shaking hands, signing jerseys and posing for photographs.
The encounter appeared to take place on a hotel rooftop or terrace at sunset, with the city skyline providing a scenic backdrop.
Willian said it was a privilege to meet the Kenyan marathon icon.
"It was a true honour to meet you, @kipchogeeliud. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do for sport. Your discipline, humility and greatness have inspired millions around the world. You are a true legend," Willian wrote.
Kipchoge replied that the admiration was mutual and expressed his hope that they would continue inspiring young people through sport.
"It was a great honour to meet you as well, my friend. Let's keep inspiring kids in Brazil and around the world," the Olympic marathon champion responded.
One of the standout moments of the meeting was the exchange of signed memorabilia.
Kipchoge received one of Willian's Grêmio jerseys bearing the Brazilian's name and iconic No. 10, complete with a personalised message and signature.
In return, Willian was presented with one of Kipchoge's signature white Nike marathon singlets, personally signed by the Kenyan legend.
The photos captured several memorable moments, including the pair deep in conversation, sharing a warm handshake with Kipchoge placing an arm around Willian's shoulder, signing the jerseys and posing together for pictures.
Both stars kept their outfits casual for the occasion.
Kipchoge wore a black Nike jacket with matching sweatpants and white slides, while Willian opted for a black sweatshirt, relaxed-fit trousers and black trainers.
The meeting came as Kipchoge continued his global marathon tour after recently travelling to Porto Alegre for the NB42K Porto Alegre Marathon.
The Brazilian race marked the second stop in Kipchoge's mission to complete marathons on all seven continents, an initiative aimed at promoting fitness, encouraging community participation and supporting charitable causes.
Kipchoge has cemented his place among the greatest distance runners in history, winning two Olympic marathon gold medals, multiple World Marathon Majors and becoming the first man to cover the marathon distance in under two hours under unofficial conditions.